A Bible Reading: Psalm 8. 1 - 4
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
A Thought As a regular visitor to Cornwall, frequently caravanning at Gwithian opposite St Ives and Carbis Bay, I have read the various G7 reports with interest more from a location point of view rather than a political one. Familiar with the usual congestion and general busyness in the narrow roads around St Ives, I was intrigued to know how Cornwall would cope with its significant visitors and the accompanying security and press coverage. Clearly local residents were mixed in their opinions. Some thought it brought a real buzz to the area, but others were singularly unimpressed with all the roadblocks and the struggles to get from home to work and back.
I’m not sure who asked the question ‘Imagine if we could put children’s voices at the heart of G7’, but that is exactly what the young choristers of Truro Cathedral did. The result was their recording of a specially composed song, ‘Gee Seven’, by Sir Tim Rice and Peter Hobbs for ‘Sing2G7’. This is beautiful, imaginative, and fun but also inspirational and deeply profound. It explores the significance of seven in our world, beginning with the seven days of creation, seven colours of the rainbow, seven continents, and so on. It is accompanied by visual images of the earth, the sea, typical Cornish engine houses, surfers and lifeboat, but also telling images of climate change and children cleaning plastic bottles off the beach, graphic reminders of the words of Swedish environmental activist, Greta Thunberg, that ‘no one is too small to make a difference’.
There is an implied sense of the majesty of God and the glory of the heavens through the praises of these youngsters, which reminded me of Psalm 8. The global leaders again took seriously their commitment to look after the planet and to reverse climate change; they also committed to work together to prevent future pandemics and to the principle of equal vaccine rollout for everyone throughout the world. However, let the voice of children cut through the rhetoric and let them have the last word with their heartfelt plea:
‘Gee Seven, let nation speak to nation,
Gee Seven, don’t let the others down,
Gee Seven, don’t forget the not so fortunate,
or we’ll run you out of town.’
Do listen to the whole song to be both challenged and inspired!
A Prayer Creator God, we thank you that in you we live and move and have our being, in you all things hold together. May we work together with others, young and old, for the benefit of everyone throughout the world we share. Amen.
‘Gee Seven’ by Sir Tim Rice and Peter Hobbs for ‘Sing2G7’ with Truro Cathedral Choristers